Blatstein’s Song and Dance Won’t Change Casino Business of Exploiting Gambling Addiction

For Immediate Release

As Bart Blatstein throws his “lavish launch party,” others, especially those who have to live next to the proposed casino, have been talking about how to stop it.  So, on November 12th, Casino-Free Philadelphia will host a meeting, along with the national organization Stop Predatory Gambling, to discuss casino development in Philadelphia.

“Casinos profit from gambling addiction” says Casino-Free Philadelphia Board Member Dan Hajdo.  “That’s why casinos are completely unacceptable; but it is also why casinos are never the road to economic development.  Never have been, never will be.”

Mayor Nutter has lobbied for a second casino in Philadelphia, perhaps spurring the Philadelphia Gaming Control Board to call for applications earlier than expected, thus giving Blatstein the upper hand in the bidding for a second casino.

Citing the standard promises of “jobs” and “revenue,” Blatstein and his friends in government again ignore any mention of the costs of casinos. 

“We’ve heard these kinds of promises before.  But, bottom line, even if he can deliver, Blatstein’s casino would be another SugarHouse with whistles and bells; and we’re still waiting for the wonderful, magical effects of that casino.”

Atlantic City’s Revel casino provides a glimpse of one potential future.  The Revel casino, in New Jersey Governor Christie’s words, was supposed to help transform Atlantic Casino in to “a resort that has gaming, not a gaming venue that could be a resort.”  So far Revel has punched a $2.4 billion dollar hole in New Jersey’s budget as the state attempts to help Revel dig itself out of heavy debt.

“In a city where more people are more concerned about gambling addiction than anything else casinos bring,” says Hajdo; “and at a time we need real economic development more than ever, Bart Blatstein has shown he lacks the imagination, or the ability, or maybe just the willingness to do something worthy of our city.”

 

Casino-Free Philadelphia's mission is to stop casinos from coming to Philadelphia and close any that open. The social and economic costs of predatory gambling are plainly apparent from an industry reliant on addiction to survive. Visit us online at www.CasinoFreePhilly.org.

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